A-B Tech students’ cutting-edge work puts sustainability in the community

November 19, 2010

A modular home built by A-B Tech students is being used by the Asheville Police Department as the Oakley Resource Center.

An energy-efficient modular home built by A-B Tech students has been transformed by the City of Asheville into a community police resource center.

Students in Construction Management Technology oversaw the construction of a NC Healthy Built modular home by Carpentry, Electrical Technology, Welding and CAD Technology students. The building was designed and constructed at a manufacturing facility adjacent to the College’s Enka site.

Healthy Built homes have characteristics such as high-efficiency irrigation and plumbing fixtures, high-efficiency windows and insulation, Energy Star appliances and lighting, and non-toxic finishes. They use durable, local, and recycled content materials.

“Building modular units involves utilizing technologies on the cutting edge of the housing industry,” said Ken Czarnomski, Construction Management Technology Chair. “I wanted to use the skills of as many departments as we could. Total student involvement was what we set out to accomplish.”

The A-B Tech house utilizes super insulated box beam headers, closed-cell foam insulation, natural clay plaster, spacing for more room for insulation, as well as a flex design to fit the needs of the police department.

"In late February 2009, conversation and negotiations began with the assistant manager and chief of police for the City of Asheville to purchase the home," said Max Queen, Vice President of Administrative Services at the College.

A year later, the Asheville Police Department opened its 2,500-square-foot Oakley Police Resource Center that serves 43 patrol officers who work in the community. The building replaces a 100-year-old structure in need of significant repair and renovation.

"The City of Asheville decided to demolish the existing building and replace it with the A-B Tech modular home as a more financially and environmentally prudent measure,” said Queen.

Asheville Police Department Chief William Hogan praised the partnership between the College and the City of Asheville. “It was a wonderful collaboration and it was critical to the project’s success,” he said.